Belgian Tourists Detained in Turkey for Smuggling Archaeological Stones: Know the Regulations to Avoid Trouble

2023-09-18 14:32:00

This may sound crazy, but it’s true. Kim and Warre, two young Belgian tourists traveling in Turkey, were stopped at the airport when boarding their return flight to Belgium. In question, three stones picked up during one of their visits. The Turkish authorities actually suspect them of smuggling archaeological objects!

During their stay in Turkey, the couple had picked up three stones from a vacant lot in Manavgat, known for its waterfalls. They wanted to keep a souvenir and put them in their aquarium, we learned via HLN.

A couple of young Belgians detained in Turkey for having picked up three stones during their vacation: “We must wait for our trial”

From there to ending up in prison, it still seems exaggerated. Questioned at the airport, the couple apparently did not provide convincing explanations. “They took fingerprints and photos, as if I was a criminal,” explains Kim. She adds that they had to spend long hours there before being taken to court where once more the wait was interminable.

Fortunately, they are not in prison, but must report to the authorities every week to prove that they are still in Turkey, available to the court which must decide. “We are waiting for our trial,” they testify.

Alcohol, tobacco, souvenirs, cash and prohibited items: everything you need to know regarding the regulations

This is a story that will be enough to scare tourists visiting Turkey, but not only that. This is not the first time that this type of story has taken place, although it remains quite rare, fortunately. This is also an opportunity to remember that you cannot put whatever you want in your suitcase to return to Belgium. The best known limitations – especially for those who go shopping abroad – concern tobacco and alcohol. For example, you can only bring back 800 cigarettes from an EU member country, and 200 cigarettes from a non-EU country. For alcohol, you have to make do with 90 liters of wine (or 110 liters of beer or 10 liters of strong alcohol) in Europe, and only 4 liters of wine or 16 liters of beer outside the EU.

And for the memories? In Europe it’s simple, you can take whatever you want home, but it must be for personal use. For the rest of the world, we are talking regarding a maximum value of €430 for a trip by plane or boat, and €300 for a trip by car.

There is also a list – published by the FPS Finances – of products prohibited from bringing into the EU. We are talking in particular regarding feline skins, ivory, crocodile skulls and even luxury guitars and accessories in Rio rosewood. For other products, there are special licenses, without forgetting that each country – example here with Turkey – has its own rules, particularly for the protection of protected sites. In France, for example, it is forbidden to collect pebbles and shells under penalty of a fine of up to €1,500.

Finally, the maximum amount that one can have in cash is also limited: €10,000. Beyond that, it must be declared.

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